There's nothing like horses to provide the extremes of emotion and usually within a very short space of time.

East Grinstead trainer Zoe Davison has experienced the high and low points of racing within the past 11 days.

She won a race for the first time since April 1999 and then a week later watched the same horse finish second, only to pull up lame.

When Baron Allfours, at the age of 11, won for the first time in 31 attempts at Fontwell Park last week, Zoe shed tears of joy.

She said: "We have had an awful time for the past few years. Every known ailment has affected my small string, so I can't really express what this winner means to me."

Last Monday, Baron Allfours faced the starter at Fontwell Park again and over a shorter distance did well to finish just over a length behind Just Reuben, who carried nine pounds less, in second place.

Colin Bolger, who was praised by the trainer for the winning ride, again gave the 11-year-old every chance.

It was a satisfactory performance but Baron Allfours finished lame and, as her partner Andy Irvine hosed down the injured leg with cold water, Zoe was near to tears once again - this time of anguish.

She said: "This could mean a year on the sidelines for the horse.

"It is so depressing, one minute you think your troubles are over and then this happens."

Twenty four hours later though, the news was better. Baron Allfours had not broken down (the diagnosis was a torn tendon) and on Wednesday morning was walking sound.

Zoe, 43, has been in racing all her life. Her dad was a trainer and she rode ten winners as a claiming rider. Six years ago she started training at Woldingham in Surrey but moved to Ashurstwood, near East Grinstead, in 1999 and soon had half-a-dozen winners, including one at Sandown Park.

"We have a 40-acre property with a woodchip gallop and schooling ground," she said.

"And Lingfield Park is close by for serious work with the flat racehorses."

Shovelstrode Stables is a family business, as Zoe's partner Andy and daughter Gemma are fully involved.

Zoe said: "We have had wonderful support from Andy's mum and from a bunch of very loyal owners and when things began to go wrong three or four years ago that was what kept us going.

"That and the fact that the property belongs to us saved us from financial ruin."

Zoe described the roller-coaster of emotions she has ridden in recent years.

"The worst day was when Summer Flower, who had won twice and been placed, got a serious virus complaint which resulted in a heart attack. She collapsed and died.

"Then you think things can't get any worse but last year we had an epidemic of strangles, an awful throat infection which means horses can hardly eat and drink and then we got ringworm."

At least affairs have reached an even keel at last. With luck, Baron Allfours may be back in action in less than a year and most of his stable companions will be ready to run when the ground eases.

Zoe and Andy employ two full-time girls and a part-timer who rides out. Gemma, 16, who hopes to have her permit to ride racing next month, and Andy complete a team of five to do the exercising.

Zoe is expecting a fourth daughter in two months time, after which she will be back in the saddle sooner rather than later. Georgina, nine and Charlotte, two, are numbers two and three.

The history of Baron Allfours is typical of the type of horse that smaller trainers have to deal with. Zoe said: "He had two trainers before me and one of them advised the owners to shoot him because he was a nutcase.

"He was pulled up six times in succession before he came to me, but first time out for us he completed and finished fourth."

One of Zoe's secrets is to turn out her horses in the paddock after their exercise.

She said: "In Baron Allfours' case he is usually led for roadwork from another horse rather than ridden. He needs to be with just one mate, not a big string and at home only Andy or Gemma ride him."

Tony Waters, who runs the Secret Circle Syndicate in whose colours Baron Allfours runs, also owns Shirley Oak.

He is one of a handful of owners whose fun it is to be at Shovelstrode early in the morning and watch their horses at exercise and to go racing and watch them run.

And if there is any justice, they will be visiting the winners' enclosure to welcome them home before the season is out.

John Dunlop's Big Bad Bob (Pat Eddery) is raised to German Group 3 class in the mile and a quarter Furstenberg Rennen at Baden Baden on Sunday.